Mail-box.



Patented June 4, I90l. C. P. MYE'B.

MAIL BOX.

(Application filed Feb. 4 1901.)

(No Model.)

9 INVENTOI? Z /a'gZWZfiflyer ATTORNEYS WIIINESSES':

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PATENT OFFICE.

OLAYTON-PITTINGER MYER, OF SILSBEE, TEXAS.

MAIL-BOX.

sm exmn rerphhg'p ittr Letters Patent ar 575,753, dated June 4, 1901.

7 J Y Application filed saintly 4., 1901. Serial No. 45,911. No model.)

- witha hoodfor the letter-receivingslot, which when lifted permittheintroduction of the letter or 'lettersope'rates a'slide'toexpose the word Mail or the equivalent; thereby showing that mail cfsome sort fliasbeen delivered to the box.

The invention also comprises'a door o nthe box to facilitate the're'nio v al of the mail, which door is controlledffrom the inside of the house, thus making it'impossible for any one to'open the box without first goinginto the building. g

This specification is a specific description of one form of the invention, while the claims are definitions of the actual scope thereof.

Reference is to be had to. the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,

in which similar characters of reference indi-' cate corresponding parts in all'the views.

Figure 1 is a front view of theinv'en'tioil.

Fig. 2 is a front View of the invention with parts in different position, and Fig; 3'is a'sec- 7 1 end of the door. This lock is situated-within tion thereof on the line 3 3 of Fig. l.

a indicates the box, which, as shown in Fig.

3, is supposed to be fastened to the door or other part b of'the building. The box a has 5.

a slot a in its fr ontwall for the'introduction In forming the slot a box-by meansof straps d, which are attached t'othe upper part of the box. The straps'd carry an apron diwhich serves to prevent the rain, sleet,snow, or dirt passing under the hood. L H

Mounted in guidewaysw e, fastened to the 'front ofthe casing a, is a slide e, which is connected to the hood d by chains e so that when the hood is raised the slide also will be raised. (See ig. 2 On the front of the mail-boxis p'roducedthe wordf Mail, which is in such 'positionthat it is covered by the slide e when the same'is inits lower positionand uncovered when the slide is raised. The slide e has attached thereto a button (2 to facilitate moving the slide back manually to its lower position, and for holding theslide raised a spring e i'sattached to the front of the box above the slideandengaged by the slidewhen the latter is raised. ,The frictional contact between the spring and slide holds the latter raised .until the' slide is moved down byhand. The

. spring ef also serves tohold letters for collection by the postman when he calls. For the purpose of holding letters, papers, and other .bulkyv mail a spring-arm fis attached to the bottom of the'box. If desired, the name or names of the person orpers'ons receiving mail 'atthe box may be printed onthe under side of the hood d, so that when the postman lifts the hood up he will be reminded of the mail to be delivered into the box.

The opening in the box a, through which themail is taken from the box, is commanded byJa door g, hinged at its upper end and engaged by a spring g within the box, so that when the'dooris released it will instantly fly open. The. door is held closed by a lock 9 engaging its bolt with a keeper at thelower thebox and is coveredby a case g ,which pro-1 vents the mail-matter from engaging the lock or its operating. parts or the boxbeing opened in any way except as intended. The lock is I, operated by a crank-shaft g which is suitably,

connectedwiththelock and projectedthrough f therear.wall of"thebox aand-also'through 9,5

'the walllordoor b'of thehouse, and the inner end 'of therod is fitted with'a handle orother device Q tofacilitateitsoperation. Other meant may be y i r r ra ng. the

'lock,'i f desired; v Now it'will beseen thatto open this box? theshaft-g must be tu rned'frorn fwithinthef f house, and,'if'des i'red, thisshaftmay be con? V V oealed, so-that no'onebut'persons acquai'nted .with its position may open the letter-box. i

Iloo J Further, various devices may be connected with the shaft for operatingit from a distance, thus adapting the box to apartment and tenement houses by permitting the opening of the box from any floor of the building. After the box is opened the mail may be taken out and the door 9 closed; also, the slide 6 should be drawn down to cover the word Mail, and the box will then be in the normal position shown in Fig. 1.

The mail-box has the following merits and advantages: It can be manufactured at small cost, is neat in appearance, protects its contents against rain, sleet, snow, and dirt, furnishes absolute security against removal of its contents by thieves and against the removal of exterior boxes from walls or doors, is simple in its manner of operation, requires the use of but one hand to deposit mail-matter, has an attachment for the reception of papers and bulky mail-matter, has an attachment to hold mail-matter to be taken up by a mail-carrier for mailing, and discloses the presence of mail matter without opening the box.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A mail-box, having an opening in its front wall for the passage of the mail, a hood movably mounted on the outside of the box over the opening to cover the same when in one position, and a slide mounted on the outside of the mail-box and connected with the hood to move in unison therewith, for the purpose specified.

2. A mail-box, having an opening to receive the mail, a hood hingedly mounted on the outside of the mail-box and normally covering the opening, a slide mounted on the outside of the mail-box subjacent to the hood, a chain connecting the hood with the slide to move the latter upward upon the upward movement of the former, and a spring-arm mounted in front of the box and engaged by the slide as it moves upward, whereby to hold the slide in raised position. I

3. A mail-box, having an opening therein adapted to permit the passage of the mail,a member commanding said opening, and a slide mounted outside of the mail-box covering normally a part of the wall of .the mailbox, on which part of the wall a word or legend is produced, and a connection between said member for commanding the openingin the box, and the slide, tooperate the slide and expose said word or legend upon the introduction of the mail.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CLAYTON PITTINGER MYER.

Witnesses:

W. P. MAYO, R. J. MAXWELL. 

